What to Expect at a Traditional Turkish Hamam

Before you arrive

You don't need to bring anything. We provide a peştamal (a thin cotton wrap), robe, towels and slippers, along with shampoo and body wash. If you'd rather wear your own swimsuit under the peştamal, that's completely fine too.

Try to arrive about ten minutes before your appointment so you have time to change and settle in without feeling rushed.

Warming up on the göbektaşı

The centerpiece of any hamam is the göbektaşı, a large heated marble platform. You'll lie here for ten to fifteen minutes while the warmth relaxes your muscles and opens your pores — this is simply a quiet, warm pause before the scrub begins.

The kese scrub and foam wash

Your attendant uses a kese, a textured mitt, to gently exfoliate the skin from head to toe. It can feel slightly firm at first, but most guests find it deeply relaxing once they settle into the rhythm.

After the scrub comes the part most people remember fondest: a cloud of warm, olive-oil soap foam washed over your entire body, followed by a rinse with warm water poured from traditional copper bowls.

• Modesty is respected throughout — you remain covered with your peştamal at all times.
• Tell your attendant if the pressure feels too firm or too light; it is easy to adjust.

Afterward

Once you're dry and dressed, we invite you to the relaxation lounge for herbal tea and a quiet moment before you head back out into Nişantaşı. Many guests pair their hamam with a sauna session beforehand or a massage afterward, since the body is especially receptive to both after the scrub.